chapter157

I saw a faint sparkle in Atlas’s eyes the moment he saw the meal I had prepared. Without a word, he took the cutlery from my hands and began to eat. He ate with an appetite I hadn't seen before; it was clear he had been starving. I sat beside him, resting my chin in my hand, watching him in the soft light.

He looked up suddenly, our eyes locking. “Haven’t you seen enough of me yet?” he asked, a trace of a smile playing on his lips. “You have a genuine talent for this, that’s for sure.”

I beamed at the compliment. “Thanks!”

As I got up to clear the dishes, he reached out and caught my hand, pulling me back. “Leave them. Let’s go for a walk. I can’t let that man’s cooking be the last thing on your mind.”

I couldn't help but chuckle. “Are you still on about that? Get over it, okay? It’s not like anything happened between us.”

“But the thought crossed your mind, didn't it?” he countered, his gaze intensifying.

I started to laugh, but he silenced me with a sudden, passionate kiss. When he finally pulled back, his voice was a low growl. “You’re mine, understood?”

“Hey!” I gasped, reaching up to touch my lip where he had nipped it. “That actually hurt.”

“Consider it a lesson,” he said, though his expression softened. He gently moved my hand away and kissed the spot he had just bitten. “Does it still sting?”

I pouted slightly. “Of course it does.”

After we showered, he changed into a set of charcoal silk pajamas that fit him perfectly. He had prepared a matching silk nightgown for me—clearly a coordinated couple’s set. The domesticity of it all felt incredibly surreal.

As we stepped out for a stroll, I realized for the first time that we weren't in a standard wing of the resort. I looked around at the meticulously landscaped private courtyard. “Is this your actual house? I thought we were in a guest suite.”

“It’s part of a private timeshare development, so it’s very secluded,” he explained. “My main residence in Foswood isn't fully finished yet, so I’m staying here for the time being.”

I leaned into him as we walked, noticing the clean, masculine scent that always seemed to linger around him. After a long silence, I hesitated and asked, “What time is it? I really should be getting back.”

He stopped and looked down at me, his brow arched. “Do you have to be such a party pooper? You’re staying here tonight.”

“But—”

“No ‘buts,’” he interrupted, his eyes searching mine. “Didn't you tell me you missed me? Or was that just something you said to appease me?”

“Of course I meant it!” I retorted, my heart skipping a beat.

“Then tell me,” Atlas said, his voice dropping to a whisper, “what exactly did you miss about me?”

My pulse quickened, and I looked away, feeling the heat rise in my cheeks. “I just... missed you. Everything. Okay?”

He let out a low chuckle. “Come on, I want a better answer than that.”

I blushed even deeper, wondering how a man who was usually so commanding and stoic could suddenly be so cheeky. Atlas turned me around, framing my face with his hands so I had no choice but to look at him. “Are you shy, or are you just feeling guilty for lying to me?”

“I want to go home,” I said, trying to squirm free from his hold, but he only wrapped his arms tighter around me.

“Not until you answer me,” he insisted.

I leaned into him, feeling helpless against his persistence. “I don't know how to put it into words.”

He narrowed his eyes slightly, a knowing look crossing his face. “You missed me, but you’re also terrified of what that means, so you want to run away. Right?”

I froze, staring at him in stunned silence. I wondered, not for the first time, how he could read my mind so effortlessly.